West Hollywood Russian Resident To Receive Women In Leadership Award

Local Russian West Hollywood resident, Maria Shtabskaya will receive the Women In Leadership Award on March 22 at the 22nd annual Women in Leadership awards ceremony in West Hollywood. The selection committee included members of the Women’s Advisory Board, a WeHo Chamber of Commerce representative and West Hollywood city staff. Candidates must work for an organization or entity in West Hollywood or work for an organization whose efforts greatly affect the community. They must have demonstrated record of great achievement and/or civil involvement in the West Hollywood community. Proceeds raised from this year’s Women in Leadership Awards event will benefit the National Council of Jewish Women.

Shtabskaya makes a lasting impression on everyone she meets with her lightheartedness, insight, guidance and hard work. She is a West Hollywood resident who has established herself over the past 11 years as valuable financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management branch in Beverly Hills. Maria is a sought out featured guest speaker where she educates and motivates the members of many organizations she serves. She continues to give back to her community and has been recognized by KidSave, Cops For Causes and the City of West Hollywood.

Many clients seek her expertise with their investments through funds gained by inheritance, divorce settlement or personal injury settlement. These along with retirees and those close to retiring and anyone who has a 401(k), real estate financing or cash management questions that need her support and help.

Maria found her niche in the Russian and LGBT communities. She serves both communities in her work and community service and philanthropic efforts. Once as the Vice President of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce from 2012 until 2014, during the same time as the Vice Chair of the Russian Advisory Board for the City of West Hollywood from 2012 until 2014 and now currently as the Executive Committee Member of the Eastern European Bar Association. She is a member and supporter of 360Karma.com, Empowering Women organization founded by Catherine Grey and a Executive Committee member and a supporter of the Evening With Women event presented by Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to benefit woman and LGBT Youth for the last three years.

Born in Russia, Maria became an entrepreneur at the age of 21 operating her own successful travel agency before immigrating to the United States in 2004. Within her first two years here, Maria’s financial savvy saw her breaking records in the world of fashion retail and she was quickly recruited to join Morgan Stanley Beverly Hills for an entry-level position. Within just a few months, Maria was promoted three times and spent several years working with a top-producing financial advising team servicing exclusive and sophisticated clients before becoming a financial adviser who now holds licenses in General Securities (Series 7), Investment Advisor (Series 66) and Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63).

Asked why she does the work she does, Maria says: “My goal is to help you to become a better investor by paying attention to your life and listening to your specific needs. When you work with me at Morgan Stanley, I utilize some of the smartest minds on Wall Street to help provide you with a proper investment strategy based on suitability.” This commitment to client success recently earned Maria the “2015, 2016 and 2017 Five Star Wealth Advisor” recognition by Los Angeles Magazine, the definitive resource on the people and culture that define Los Angeles.

Maria holds a Master's Degree in Arts of Education/Linguistics/Foreign Language from State University in Russia. She is fluent in both Russian and English and lives in West Hollywood, California.

Awards will take place on March 22 from 6pm to 8 p.m. Woven rug store at 8674 Melrose Avenue.